Democratic House Candidate Arrested in Hawaii
A Democratic House candidate in Hawaii has been arrested on suspicion of threatening county employees with a gun.
According to police reports, a call was made around 9:30 a.m. on Friday when 40-year-old Kirill Basin entered the county courthouse in Wailuku. He was reportedly “brandishing a firearm and arguing with county employees,” as noted in a press release from the Maui Police Department.
This incident is just the latest in a series of unusual occurrences related to Basin’s increasingly aggressive behavior.
Interestingly, there was a 90-minute delay between when Basin first arrived and when police were notified, though the county has not clarified why.
Authorities arrested Basin in Kihei at about 12:30 p.m., taking him into custody without any issues. He now faces a felony charge of first-degree terroristic threats.
Chief John Pelletier of the Maui Police Department stated, “We will never compromise public safety. Incidents like this are taken very seriously in Maui County.” He praised the quick response of the officers, which he believed ensured a peaceful resolution.
Records show that Basin has not been taken into custody since that incident.
Basin’s campaign responded, asserting:
Kirill Basin denies any wrongdoing, claiming he did not brandish a firearm or threaten anyone. He argued that the item in question was merely an unloaded pellet gun located in his backpack and that it was never taken out. The accuser only saw it inside. The campaign expressed concern that the narrative surrounding the incident lacks important context and presents a skewed version of events before thorough investigation. Basin maintains his innocence and plans to contest the charges. He expects that all relevant evidence, including video footage and witness statements, will be reviewed in the proper legal settings.
Moreover, this latest incident follows a pattern of erratic behavior. Police reported that Basin was forcibly removed from a meeting at South Maui City Hall earlier in the week due to an altercation involving Councilman Tom Cook and other county staff.
Further complicating matters, a temporary restraining order against Basin was filed by Jared Agtunon, Cook’s executive assistant, after Basin allegedly threatened him in the parking lot. The order details phone calls wherein Basin left messages that were derogatory, suggesting he wished Agtunon luck in prison.
Additionally, the day preceding his arrest, Basin filed a lawsuit alleging police brutality, claiming he experienced extreme physical and psychological abuse during an encounter with officers.
Basin had previously been arrested for disorderly conduct on May 2. He is running as a Democratic candidate for Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District and recently received his official candidate report from the Hawaii Department of Elections.
